A preview of cruise industry’s next five years

The next five years will see cruising’s greatest capacity growth in any previous half-decade with 35 ships scheduled to launch during that period. Considering they usually announce new ships three years out, that mould has been broken with recent announcements four and five in advance.

Many will be sister ships to original designs; however, plenty will be new from the hull up.

Speaking of new, I’d like to see the large cruise lines add new overnights and late-night departures. Arriving at 7 a.m. and leaving at 5 p.m. leaves us feeling we’ve missed something, and we have — nightlife.

What else is planned between now and 2021? More greening of ships, with shore power in cities like Vancouver, solar panels, fuel scrubbers, new hull surfaces that will cut fuel usage and just about all refuse becoming recyclable.

Picking a winner among new-design ships will be difficult. Holland America — overdue for a new ship — will launch its Pinnacle Class with the Koningsdam in April, and several more will follow. New will be restaurants, a Culinary Arts Center for participation and a series of solo and family cabins.

I’m anxious to board her on April 27. The class of ship is fitting, as the Pinnacle Restaurant on Holland America ships is among the finest at sea.

I’m joining the 4,000-passenger Carnival Vista on May 14 and the word “first” is being used liberally. It will have the first IMAX theatre at sea, the first open-air SkyRide around the top of the ship, an on-board

Carnival Vista, in the final stages of construction in Italy [Carnival Cruise Lines]

brewery, a dedicated family-only zone with a private lounge, and a new class of cabins. Havana Cabanas come with outdoor patios and loungers facing the Havana Bar and pool, exclusive to those cabins. Larger family cabins will accommodate five.

In July, the Explorer will become Regent Seven Seas’ largest ship, increasing capacity by a whopping 40 per cent. As that fleet’s biggest ship, it will carry only 738 passengers, and Regent is claiming its 1,500-

Regent Seven Seas Explorer’s new culinary centre [Regent Seven Seas]

square-foot suite will be the finest ever on a cruise ship. There will be 369 suites (the smallest 300 square feet), a nine-deck atrium, a two-story theatre and six open-seating gourmet restaurants…amazing for a ship that size.

Luxury is all-new from Seabourn with the launch of the 604-passenger Seabourn Encore, an all-suite ship, 302 suites with private balconies.

In 2018, Celebrity will launch new-design ships from under the working name Project Edge. Crystal Cruises, spending billions on new ships and planes, will launch its first new ship in 12 years and claim the highest space ratio at sea.

Then in 2020, the flamboyant Richard Branson will launch the first two Virgin Cruises ships.

With copies of current ships and new designs coming, this will be one of the busiest eras ever for shipyards specializing in cruise ships. Still more could be added by the end of the decade but with Crystal’s billions and Branson’s brand, cruising’s future is in good hands for the next five years.